I’m tremendously saddened to hear of the recent – and, to me, sudden – passing of master birder Rich Stallcup. Rich was one of the founders of the Point Reyes Bird Observatory (now PRBO Conservation Science). And he was one of the most insightful naturalists I’ve ever had the opportunity to go birding with (though, unfortunately, not often enough). Rich’s style of leading a outing wasn’t just, or even primarily, about bird identification. He would get you to look at the whole habitat from a bird’s perspective and think about what resources were available and what sort of bird might exploit them and how. I found it to be a very rich and rewarding way of seeing the landscape.

Rich was a very busy guy, but he had promised to write something for Bay Nature some day soon; all I can say, Rich, is that this is a helluva way to get out of that commitment.

Thanks so much for sharing your passion for, and deep knowledge of, birds with us for so many years. You’ll be greatly missed.

Rich modeled for me the commitment one might have to a natural world of it’s own language and priorities. Being in the field with him was being integral with the actual life of it and not as some privileged foreigner visiting their primitive neighbor. Farewell and God-speed Rich

Rich had many deep insights into nature, one of his crucial dicta: “Sure you’ve seen lots of Robins, but have you ever seen THAT Robin?”
Rich was the ultimate birder and naturalist, as much guru as guide.